The 8th edition of the Cyber and Data Security Summit 2024, organized by Kalinga Digital Media, and presented by Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Intensity, was commenced with great enthusiasm at The Park, New Delhi on 9th of February, 2024. With a focus on addressing the evolving challenges of cyber threats and data security, the summit provided insightful discussions, expert presentations, and valuable networking opportunities.

The dignitaries who graced the occasion included Dr. Amar Patnaik, M.P.- Rajya Sabha; ; Mr. Sanjay Kumar Das Addl. Secretary, IT&E Dept and State CISO, West Bengal; Dr. Pavan Duggal, Chairman-International Commission on Cyber Security Law; Dr. Gulshan Rai, Former National Cyber Security Coordinator and Founder & Former DG, CERT-In ; Ms. Suchitra Maurya, CGM- Reserve Bank Of India (RBI Ombudsman); Mr. B. Shankar Jaiswal, IPS- Joint Commissioner of Police- Delhi Police; Mr. Sudhir Sahu, Founder & CEO- Datasafeguard Inc.; Mr. Kamal Kashyap, Director and Country Manager - Storage Business Unit, HPE India;  Mr. Harnath Babu, Partner & Chief Information Officer- KPMG; Dr. Pavan Duggal, Chairman-International Commission on Cyber Security Law; Mr. Atul Kumar, Lead-Government Initiatives and Global Trade- DSCI; Mr. Sanjay Kaushik, M.D. - Netrika Consulting India; Mr. Vijay Sethi, Digital Transformation and sustainability evangelist-Mentorkart ; Dr. Karnika Seth, Legal Advisor, Ministry of Defence, GoI; Dr. Rakshit Tandon, Risk Advisory, Cyber Detect & Respond Leader; Mr. Dinesh Kumar, sales Director- India & SAARC- SOTI; Mr. Jaspreet Singh, Partner- Grant Thornton Bharat LLP; Adv( Dr.) Prashant Mali, President & Founder- Cyber Law Consulting;Mr. Rohit Raman, Managing Partner & Head APAC- ETek  International Corporation; Mr. Deepak Maheshwari, Public Policy Researcher & Consultant; Mr. Saurabh Gugnani, Head IT & Security- MAX Life Insurance; Mr. Shaik J. Ahmed, V.P, Head of Information Security Risk & Governance- Mashreq Bank; Mr. Saumil Purani, V.P-IT (Infrastructure Solution & Delivery)-  Axis Bank; Mr. Shubhendu Dutta, CTO-NSE Indices and Data; Mr.  Roop Kumar, Category Manager – Storage, HPE India ; Ms. Khushbu Jain, Advocate- Supreme Court Of India; Col.(Dr.) Indrajeet Singh, Founder- Cybersleuths; Mr. Sourabh Gupta, Group Chief Digital and Information Officer-Gujarat Fluorochemicals Ltd. And Major Subhendu Mahunta, Head-Financial Crime Prevention- FPL Technologies.

Dr. Deepak Kumar Sahu, Editor-in-chief & Publisher, VARINDIA, delivered the welcome address, setting the stage for the day's proceedings. Throughout the morning session, esteemed dignitaries including Dr. Gulshan Rai, Former National Cyber Security Coordinator and Founder & Former DG, CERT-In; Sudhir Sahu, Founder & CEO- Datasafeguard Inc. and Rohit Sobti, Regional Sales Manager - North & East India, Nepal & Bhutan- FORTINET delivered and showcased their invaluable contributions to the field of cybersecurity. The summit also featured illuminating presentations and discussions from industry leaders who shared insights into the latest trends and practices in cybersecurity.

The highlight of the summit was the insightful discussion during the fireside chat sessions, the first one was between Animesh Bansriyar - Director - Solution Architect, Elastic and Arvind Jawahar Bhat, Head Managed Security Operations & iSOC- Airtel and the second fireside chat session was moderated by Dr. Deepak Kumar Sahu, Editor-in-Chief of VARINDIA, featuring Rameesh Kailasam, CEO of Indiatech.org, and Sudhir Sahu, Founder & CEO of Datasafeguard.ai, who delved into the nuances of data privacy and security in the digital age.

The summit features four tracks of panel discussions, corporate presentations, providing a platform for experts from diverse backgrounds to share insights and best practices in combating cyber threats, followed by the awards ceremony.

The first panel discussion session on "Personal Safety in the Digital World," was moderated by Dr. Deepak Kumar Sahu, and the panelists were Dr. Manjari Khanna Kapoor, Chairperson SEQURE and CPTED India; Veena Gupta, Founder & MD- Seam Risk Solution India; Jaspreet Singh, Partner- Grant Thornton Bharat LLP; Major Subhendu Mahunta, Head-Financial Crime Prevention- FPL Technologies and Dr.Rakshit Tandon, Risk Advisory, Cyber Detect & Respond Leader.

The afternoon session of the 8th Cyber and Data Security Summit 2024, unfolded with remarkable vigor and engagement. Continuing the trajectory set by the morning session, the afternoon segment explored pioneering strategies, insightful discussions, and expert insights aimed at navigating the complex landscape of cybersecurity and data privacy.

Sanjay Kumar Das, Additional Secretary of the IT&E Department and State CISO of West Bengal, captivated the audience with his talk on "PRIVACY in Cyberspace - Dilemma, Despair, and Opportunity," shedding light on proactive measures implemented by WEBEL to combat cybercrime and protect netizens in the state of West Bengal.

The afternoon session also featured stimulating panel discussions, including "Strategies for Cyber Resilience in 2024: Future Outlook," moderated by Deepak Maheshwari, Public Policy Researcher & Consultant. Esteemed panelists, including B. Shankar Jaiswal, IPS, Joint Commissioner of Police - Delhi Police; Dr. Karnika Seth, Legal Advisor, Ministry of Defence, GoI; Harnath Babu, Partner & Chief Information Officer- KPMG; Kersi Tavadia, Ex CIO- Bombay Stock Exchange and Suchitra Maurya, CGM- Reserve Bank Of India (RBI Ombudsman) shared valuable insights into fortifying cybersecurity strategies amid evolving cyber threats.

B. Shankar Jaiswal, IPS, Joint Commissioner of Police - Delhi Police, set the stage with his astute overview on the future outlook of data and security landscape.

Engaging presentations by industry leaders such as Chirag Nagda, Customer Solution Architect Team Lead (India & SAARC)- Efficient IP and Rohit Raman, Managing Partner & Head APAC- ETek International Corporation underscored the importance of leveraging innovative solutions and technologies to enhance network security and address emerging threats.

The third, thought-provoking panel discussion, on "Fortifying the Financial Sector: Strategies against Cyber Threats," provided attendees with actionable strategies for protecting critical assets in the financial sector. The moderator of this discussion was Gyana Ranjan Swain, Consulting Editor- VARINDIA, and the panelists were Saurabh Gugnani, Head IT & Security- MAX Life Insurance; Umakant Tripathi, Director -Cyber security- LTI Mindtree;  Shaik J. Ahmed, V.P, Head of Information Security Risk & Governance- Mashreq Bank; Saumil Purani, V.P-IT (Infrastructure Solution & Delivery)- Axis Bank; Shubhendu Dutta, CTO-NSE Indices and Data and Sudhir Sahu, Founder & CEO of Datasafeguard.ai.

S. Mohini Ratna, Editor-VARINDIA, moderated an insightful panel discussion on "Navigating the Landscape of Data Privacy," featuring prominent experts such as Vijay Sethi, Digital Transformation, and sustainability evangelist at Mentorkart, Kamal Kashyap, Director, and Country Manager - Storage Business Unit, HPE India; Col.(Dr.) Indrajeet Singh, Founder- Cybersleuths; Dr.Damodar Sahu, Co-Founder & Chief Growth Officer- Datasafeguard Inc.; Sourabh Gupta, Group Chief Digital and Information Officer-Gujarat Fluorochemicals Ltd.; and Khushbu Jain, Advocate- Supreme Court Of India.

The session culminated with an enlightening addresses by Adv (Dr.) Prashant Mali, President & Founder of Cyber Law Consulting and Dinesh Kumar, Sales Director- India & SAARC- SOTI .

The evening session of the highly anticipated 8th Cyber and Data Security Summit 2024, presented by Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Intensity, unfolded with unparalleled energy and engagement. The session commenced with a series of thought-provoking discussions on the dynamics between CIOs and CISOs, emphasizing the importance of aligning security needs with IT development goals within organizations.

The evening session featured the keynote address by Dr. Amar Patnaik, Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha, who underscored the importance of preventive measures in cybersecurity, emphasizing the cost-effectiveness of preventing cyber-attacks compared to repairing the damage caused by them.

Distinguished key speakers and technology experts took center stage to share their expertise and insights. Dr. Pavan Duggal, Chairman of the International Commission on Cyber Security Law, delivered a compelling address on "Indian Cyber Legal Approaches on Cybercrime & Cyber Security - Emerging Trends," shedding light on evolving trends and challenges in the legal landscape of cybersecurity.

Roop Kumar, Category Manager – Storage, HPE India, captivated the audience with his presentation on real-time detection and protection, showcasing innovative solutions to safeguard critical data in the digital age.

Atul Kumar, Lead-Government Initiatives and Global Trade, Data Security Council of India, provided valuable insights into government initiatives and international engagement in cybersecurity, highlighting the importance of collaboration in addressing global cybersecurity challenges.

Sanjay Kaushik, Managing Director of Netrika Consulting India, delved into the emerging challenge of deep fakes in cybercrime, emphasizing the need for proactive measures to combat this growing threat.

The most exciting and awaiting moment of the event was the awards ceremony, recognizing outstanding contributions and innovations in cybersecurity solutions. The awards, based on feedback from end-users, acknowledged companies for their excellence in cloud security, IoT security, unified endpoint management, network security, and more.

The event concluded on a high note with a heartfelt vote of thanks by S Mohini Ratna, Editor-VARINDIA, expressing gratitude to all participants, sponsors, speakers, and attendees for their invaluable contributions and making the summit a resounding success.